Don’t run away from home in the middle of a storm.
-- Cynthia Copeland Lewis, “Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me”
The rain has been pounding. Lightening has lit up the sky and the thunder has been roaring. The sky is dark and the clouds are heavy. There’s not a trace of sunshine. The storm seems to be endless.
I am seeking a reprieve from the storm. I want it to go away. I’m exhausted from the repetitiveness of the rain and thunder, worn out from the darkness, done in by the clouds. But then, I’m not even sure I’d recognize the sunshine if it showed up.
I’d be skeptical that it’d stay around.
I’m not normally a pessimist but this storm has dampened my sanguinity and buoyancy. With every raindrop, I find myself wallowing deeper into dismay and sullenness. Nothing stops the rain.
My red floral rain boots don’t even help me wade through the flood anymore.
I’ve tried leaving home in the storm but it followed me. I’ve tried dancing in the storm but that felt forged and contrived; I can’t fool myself. I’ve tried pleading with the storm to go away but it just rains harder.
I’ve prayed for the storm to end, but it just keeps raining.
I guess I just gotta wait for the storm to pass. I’ll keep my eyes out for the rainbow. I’ll anticipate the sunshine. I know those rays will be worth the wait.
I’m in the middle of the storm and I have nowhere else to go.
Showing posts with label cheerfulness in the midst of struggle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheerfulness in the midst of struggle. Show all posts
Sep 5, 2011
Jan 18, 2011
Life isn’t about waiting for the storms to pass...
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
-- Author Unknown
This wilderness I find myself in these days is a strange place. Mysterious. On some days, I can see my way through it and find meaning in it; those days are lovely. On other days, there're blinding dust storms and huge tidal waves, suffocating from me any progress I'd made in this journey. On those days, I feel anything but lovely. It's on those days I feel woe/puzzlement and throw my biggest pity parties.
Nobody ever attends those parties, thankfully; they're just not that much fun. Besides, I don't want to be known for having bad shindigs. As a matter of fact, I don't want to live another day sad/sullen/sorry; I want to live like I've got something waiting for me. Because. I. do!
When I get quiet, still, and listen, I am reminded by Elohim that allowing the difficult/painful/disappointing times is His way of pruning and polishing me for something greater. Hebrews 12:7 (NIRV) says "Put up with hard times. God uses them to train you. He is treating you as children. What children are not trained by their parents?" Then, verses 11-12 continue: "No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does that for those who have been trained by it. So lift your sagging arms. Strengthen your weak knees."
Keeping my mind and heart focused on God, discerning what God wants me to learn while I walk through this wilderness, and getting/being/remaining obedient to His Word/will, I am able to accept this time in my life, this valley, this storm with grace, submission, and awe. I can receive the "no" as protection and the "not now" for requisite strengthening/preparation/respect for God's timing. I can begin to uncover/understand/believe who Elohim says I am and disavow everything that caused me to think otherwise. I can appreciate the Word, take it at face value, fight for it, and really heed/trust it to point the way. This wilderness simply feels like a place of respite when I keep my eyes on what/how God is moving through me/my life/the atmosphere. God is working on my harvest!
So I'll sing in the storms of this journey. Maybe I'll dance a bit in this wilderness – maybe learn how to do a really wild Dougie! Perhaps I'll discover some new hobbies – wine tasting, cooking, photography, bird watching, belly dancing, playing volleyball with GG. Maybe I'll travel more, write more, spend more time with friends, volunteer more, work on publishing the "Thought…". Maybe I'll do all of that!
But, what I won't do anymore – with Jehovah Ropheka's (the God who heals) help – is have/wallow around at another sorry soiree. That takes too much precious energy.
Instead, I'm going to learn, as Paul said in Philippians 4:11 (AMP), "… how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am."
Amen and Amen…….
Nov 16, 2010
My barn burnt down...
My barn burnt down... but now I can see the moon.
--- Zen
This is Part 2 to yesterday’s “Thought…,” (“weeping may endure… but rejoicing…”). You didn’t know there’d be a Part 2, huh? Neither did I.
I wrote these 3 very long pages about going through the darkness of night to get to the refreshment of the morning, and while it’s true/a fact/God’s promise that morning does come after you’ve conscientiously travailed through the night and after you’ve pulled up the weeds you’ve erroneously and improperly tended and after you’ve mystically received salve to heal/reconcile/fix the wounds of inner and outer destruction, it doesn’t mean you can’t also find and have joyfulness/cheerfulness/optimism/resilience while in the dark.
Joy in the dark? Cheerfulness when all this mess abounds? Geez, how Pollyannaish.
It may be. But let’s look at it from another angle.
Proverbs 15:13 (MSG) says, “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.” Proverbs 15:15 (MSG) says, “A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.” Then, Proverbs 17:22 (MSG) says “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. And Jesus, the One who had every right to be sad and stay sad, said in John 16:33 (KJV), “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Nothing Pollyannaish about that. That’s the truth!
Between the night and the morning is time – time to reveal, examine, and heal. And while those can be/are often tedious processes, God still requires that we “take heart” – have courage; be confident, certain, and undaunted (AMP). God requires that we be cheerful, trusting that He is always present and working on our behalf. God insists that in the period of time between the dark and the sunrise, we show gladness so that others might see and believe, and God wants you praise and worship Him even when the space between sadness and joy is so overwhelming, the last thing you want to do is praise, let alone open your mouth to say anything positive!
Think on (read!) Acts 16:16-40. Paul recounts that he and Silas were arrested for “disturbing the peace,” beaten then thrown into jail, practically naked, with a bunch of criminals. He says they (he and Silas; the prisoners couldn’t see how they could do such a thing) spent the night praying and vibrantly singing songs of praise and hymns of joy to God and, as they were lifting these powerful exaltations, an earthquake came and burst open the jail freeing them all if they so chose (of course, they didn’t leave, and they even introduced the weary jailer and his family to Jesus). But you see, even in the midst of persecution/abuse/cold-bloodedness/ neglect/heartlessness/unkindness/disrespect/unrest, you still have to be cheerful, thankful, and worshipful because in spite of it all, God’s got you.
That means you have to see the glass as half full, and you have to believe that, even though everyday is not a good day, there’s something good in every day. Maybe you lost your job. That’s devastating! But now you have time to start your own business! Maybe the power company cut your lights off. It’s cold outside! But now you get to cuddle with your honey or your kids and spend quality time together singing and praising God for one another! Maybe you don’t have a dime in the bank. Payday is not for another 8 days and you ain’t bought no food! But you do have some staples and a mean recipe for eggs, potatoes and a small piece of fish! And that barn? Sheesh, who needs a barn these days anyway? Sit back and enjoy the moon and the stars and whatever else God put out there in the universe. That’s probably what God wanted you to do anyway.
Aha! God wants you to sit back (be still) and take notice of what He put here for you to take notice of/experience/enjoy, not worry about the nooks and crannies between night and daylight. God’s got that.
Bishop Walter Hawkins sang, “Don’t wait ‘til the battle is over, shout now! You know in the end you’re gonna win.” So if you know that when it’s over you’ll be okay – better than okay with Jesus – why let sadness be your travel companion as you journey through to day? Don’t wait ‘til later when the stuff is no more and all pretty and fixed up. Right now, be of good cheer; know that Elohim is Jehovah Shammah (He’s there) and Jehovah Shalom (He is peace). Shout now while it’s dark.
--- Zen
This is Part 2 to yesterday’s “Thought…,” (“weeping may endure… but rejoicing…”). You didn’t know there’d be a Part 2, huh? Neither did I.
I wrote these 3 very long pages about going through the darkness of night to get to the refreshment of the morning, and while it’s true/a fact/God’s promise that morning does come after you’ve conscientiously travailed through the night and after you’ve pulled up the weeds you’ve erroneously and improperly tended and after you’ve mystically received salve to heal/reconcile/fix the wounds of inner and outer destruction, it doesn’t mean you can’t also find and have joyfulness/cheerfulness/optimism/resilience while in the dark.
Joy in the dark? Cheerfulness when all this mess abounds? Geez, how Pollyannaish.
It may be. But let’s look at it from another angle.
Proverbs 15:13 (MSG) says, “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.” Proverbs 15:15 (MSG) says, “A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.” Then, Proverbs 17:22 (MSG) says “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. And Jesus, the One who had every right to be sad and stay sad, said in John 16:33 (KJV), “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Nothing Pollyannaish about that. That’s the truth!
Between the night and the morning is time – time to reveal, examine, and heal. And while those can be/are often tedious processes, God still requires that we “take heart” – have courage; be confident, certain, and undaunted (AMP). God requires that we be cheerful, trusting that He is always present and working on our behalf. God insists that in the period of time between the dark and the sunrise, we show gladness so that others might see and believe, and God wants you praise and worship Him even when the space between sadness and joy is so overwhelming, the last thing you want to do is praise, let alone open your mouth to say anything positive!
Think on (read!) Acts 16:16-40. Paul recounts that he and Silas were arrested for “disturbing the peace,” beaten then thrown into jail, practically naked, with a bunch of criminals. He says they (he and Silas; the prisoners couldn’t see how they could do such a thing) spent the night praying and vibrantly singing songs of praise and hymns of joy to God and, as they were lifting these powerful exaltations, an earthquake came and burst open the jail freeing them all if they so chose (of course, they didn’t leave, and they even introduced the weary jailer and his family to Jesus). But you see, even in the midst of persecution/abuse/cold-bloodedness/ neglect/heartlessness/unkindness/disrespect/unrest, you still have to be cheerful, thankful, and worshipful because in spite of it all, God’s got you.
That means you have to see the glass as half full, and you have to believe that, even though everyday is not a good day, there’s something good in every day. Maybe you lost your job. That’s devastating! But now you have time to start your own business! Maybe the power company cut your lights off. It’s cold outside! But now you get to cuddle with your honey or your kids and spend quality time together singing and praising God for one another! Maybe you don’t have a dime in the bank. Payday is not for another 8 days and you ain’t bought no food! But you do have some staples and a mean recipe for eggs, potatoes and a small piece of fish! And that barn? Sheesh, who needs a barn these days anyway? Sit back and enjoy the moon and the stars and whatever else God put out there in the universe. That’s probably what God wanted you to do anyway.
Aha! God wants you to sit back (be still) and take notice of what He put here for you to take notice of/experience/enjoy, not worry about the nooks and crannies between night and daylight. God’s got that.
Bishop Walter Hawkins sang, “Don’t wait ‘til the battle is over, shout now! You know in the end you’re gonna win.” So if you know that when it’s over you’ll be okay – better than okay with Jesus – why let sadness be your travel companion as you journey through to day? Don’t wait ‘til later when the stuff is no more and all pretty and fixed up. Right now, be of good cheer; know that Elohim is Jehovah Shammah (He’s there) and Jehovah Shalom (He is peace). Shout now while it’s dark.
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